Marxist reference center appoints new librarian

NEW YORK - The Reference Center for Marxist Studies, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, is projecting expanded services to meet the increased demands of patrons from around the country and the world. Mark Rosenzweig has joined the staff of the center as its new Chief Librarian.

Rosenzweig is a professional librarian who comes from Hofstra University. He is the editor of the journal Progressive Librarian and is an elected member of the Council of the American Library Association (ALA) as well as a representative to ALA's Social Responsibilities Round Table.

He looks forward to "helping promote the Reference Center's development as a key information resource for the study of socialism and the movements of the working class." It is expected that bringing Mark on board will also allow the center to increase its hours in the future.

"The Reference Center's growing importance has been internationally recognized," Rosenzweig said, "and it remains one of the most significant libraries of Marxist literature in the English-speaking world."

It presently consists of more than 40,000 volumes and continues to add material (by purchase and grant), keeping up with current Marxist thinking, while working to preserve the written record of the past. In addition to books and periodicals, the center has a graphic arts department and a unique and invaluable collection of pamphlets which, as one of its major projects, it is presently cataloging to enhance access to its historical documentation.

As the center enters its third decade, they anticipate being able to use the World Wide Web to disseminate information about the center's holdings. The Reference Center already corresponds via the internet in response to inquiries from around the world.

This year, as in the past, the center will hold its annual art show and sale which raises funds for the center's maintenance and expansion. In the 20th year of the Research Center's existence we expect the show will be a gala affair. It is always eagerly awaited by artists and art dealers. As interest in Marxism reignites around the world the Reference Center for Marxist Studies plans to continue to play its role in meeting the growing research and educational needs of all those who are drawn to the literature of socialism.

- Special to the World